First time owners - what have you learned?

PolarSkye

PolarSkye

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. . . to mark the fact that it's three years tomorrow since we brought The GreyDonkey home (and having had two mares on loan for a year before we bought him, and despite having ridden/handled horses for a good seven/eight years before that he was my first ever real and proper very own horse), I have been looking back on our journey together and thinking about how much I have learned.

Here's my list - I'd love to hear what you've learned:

- He's my horse, we've built a bond, and I know him better than anyone else . . . if I think he isn't "right" . . . unusually grumpy or lethargic or stressy then he is probably trying to tell me something

- I don't need to follow the latest feed fashions and fill him full of expensive mixes . . . he needs good quality forage and plenty of it

- People on livery yards who seem to have all the answers don't necessarily . . . if they haven't handled your horse twice a day, every day, for a significant period of time and they have never SAT on your horse, then you can assume that they may be talking out of their rear ends

- I LIKE quirky horses . . . yes, I could have bought something bombproof and dependable, but GD's temperament (under saddle only - he lives up to his nickname totally when handled on the ground) is a big part of why I love him so much . . . he has so much personality and character and I just love being around him - he makes me smile every day

- I DO have the knowledge and experience to make my own decisions about what to feed my horse, how to rug him, what bit to use, whether to boot or bandage and when, what tack to wear and when, etc. More to the point, I just need to smile and nod when other people (aka knowitalls) profer their unsolicited opinion

- I like owning a grey . . . I wasn't shopping for a particular colour - I just shopped for the horse that fitted us best . . . and keeping him clean is like painting the Forth road bridge, but he looks so stunning when he is clean . . . he's my silvery, fairytale boy

- Losing a toenail isn't the end of the world . . .

- I'm one tough cookie . . . the day after I suffered concussion and had fractured my seatbones after being ejected by the GD, I walked (make that hobbled) round Tweseldown . . . I also continued to muck out/ride, etc. with two broken ribs after another unscheduled dismount . . . and I have to be at death's door not to make it up to the yard to muck out/work/sort out my boy . . . I'll wager money that most people had me down as "soft"

So . . . what have you learned? Has owning a horse been quite what you thought? Better? Worse? Any surprises? For me, the single biggest surprise was just how bitchy some people in the horse world can be . . . and on the flip side just how lovely some others can be.

P
 
People stick their noses in far more than when you share or loan or manage a yard! (Will never go back to a yard again).

They know when you've had a bad day and will be absolutely chilled out and cuddly. They know when you're in a rush and will walk 35acres as slowly as possible over to you.

If you laugh at one she'll glare if you laugh at the other she's bound to trip over her feet.

One was labelled as a dangerous unhandleable horse. Was told by several liveries that she'd need shooting. She taught me to ignore people and to listen to her, she's so good now.

If a horse breaks your hand, she's deemed worth keeping hold of by OH.

And the best thing I have learned. The safest place to be is on a horse. It's trailers and lead ropes that break bones :rolleyes:
 
Its been 8 months since I bought Leo, (had a horse on loan before him), and have learnt the following;

Trust my own insticts- I do know what I'm talking about (most of the time ;)) and need to have more faith in myself instead of questionning myself all the time!

That I have more stamia than I thought (I'm on DIY livery) and work full time.

I can sucessfully bring a horse back into work from an injury safely and get weight off a horse carefully and safely (he was FAT when I got him!)

That he is my pride and joy and my forever horse

Not all yards are the same, and I'm so lucky that my first livery one is amazing!

I know who my real friends are!

More about shoeing (my poor farrier gets bombarded with questions every time I see him! :D)

More about wounds, lotions and poitions

And finally that I can sucessfully keep a horse happy and healthy!! :D :D

Said first horse :D

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I have learnt so much but the thing that stands out for me is this:
I love him, more then any amount of words could say and no matter what his behaviour is or how bad the weather is, I still want to be with him. He is my absolute pride & joy.
 
never be afraid to ask for help or for another opinion.
having an instructor that you click with and regular lessons are important. it took four months to see an improvement but only three lessons :rolleyes:
 
missmatch said:
I have learnt so much but the thing that stands out for me is this:
I love him, more then any amount of words could say and no matter what his behaviour is or how bad the weather is, I still want to be with him. He is my absolute pride & joy.
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Lovely
 
Not a first timer, but what I have learned is that you never stop learning and anyone who thinks they know it all is a. dangerous, and b. unteachable.
 
Tinsel Town said:
Its been 8 months since I bought Leo, (had a horse on loan before him), and have learnt the following;

Trust my own insticts- I do know what I'm talking about (most of the time ;)) and need to have more faith in myself instead of questionning myself all the time!

That I have more stamia than I thought (I'm on DIY livery) and work full time.

I can sucessfully bring a horse back into work from an injury safely and get weight off a horse carefully and safely (he was FAT when I got him!)

That he is my pride and joy and my forever horse

Not all yards are the same, and I'm so lucky that my first livery one is amazing!

I know who my real friends are!

More about shoeing (my poor farrier gets bombarded with questions every time I see him! :D)

More about wounds, lotions and poitions

And finally that I can sucessfully keep a horse happy and healthy!! :D :D

Said first horse :D

60274_10151064332398372_327548840_n.jpg
Click to expand...

What a lovely post and a nice subject. My first horse was 40 years ago, an ill judged purchase, chestnut TB mare and the only memories I have are a) painful, b) visits to hospital and, c) my father telling me I would regret it - and he was right.

Anyway a fair few fabulous horses and many years later I think regardless of being new to horse keeping or an old hand we never ever stop learning from them. I most certainly don't and all I hope to achieve is the health to keep learning and enjoying them.

For you new owners, your horses are lucky to have such fabulous homes and everything they teach you, can be taken forward to more lucky horses in the future.
 
The boy I have now is my first horse ern though I have ridden fr over 20 years and have had loaners for the past 10.

I have had my boy 3 months and my valuable lesson is dont get a 7 month old colt! Don't get me wrong he is great and not at all coltish but I could have made my life easier by getting an older horse first. Second lesson is that a bad judgement buy like mine can be the best thing in the world if you let it, I love my boy with all my heart and would not turn back the clock.
 
Excellent post, Polarskye. I second everything you say up there^^

I've learnt that calm and quiet can create a calm and quiet horse out of even the most hyperactive nervious nellie to land on the yard.
 
I've learnt in the month we have had charlie that you are always learning and that this forum is invaluable for advice and help wen u need it :) and reassurance xx I've learnt that my non horsy OH likes cuddly ponies and I couldn't do this without him :) and that I love having our own pony! Xx
 
I'm almost at the 2 year anniversary stage with Madam..... and I would agree with most of what you say!

PolarSkye said:
- He's my horse, we've built a bond, and I know him better than anyone else . . . if I think he isn't "right" . . . unusually grumpy or lethargic or stressy then he is probably trying to tell me something whether I can work out what is a different matter though!

- I don't need to follow the latest feed fashions and fill him full of expensive mixes . . . he needs good quality forage and plenty of it Agree, we had a nightmare trying to keep weight on during our first winter and I'm starting to feel like I'm just about there! I've also learnt that there is some rubbish advice out there and that actually this place is one of the best resources! :eek: I've also learnt that many many people underestimate how much forage a horse needs

- People on livery yards who seem to have all the answers don't necessarily . . . if they haven't handled your horse twice a day, every day, for a significant period of time and they have never SAT on your horse, then you can assume that they may be talking out of their rear ends no comment ;)

- I LIKE quirky horses . . . yes, I could have bought something bombproof and dependable, but GD's temperament (under saddle only - he lives up to his nickname totally when handled on the ground) is a big part of why I love him so much . . . he has so much personality and character and I just love being around him - he makes me smile every day agree except mine is bombproof out ridden and a wuss about other stuff

- I DO have the knowledge and experience to make my own decisions about what to feed my horse, how to rug him, what bit to use, whether to boot or bandage and when, what tack to wear and when, etc. More to the point, I just need to smile and nod when other people (aka knowitalls) profer their unsolicited opinion Agree again, one thing I have learnt is to have confidence in my own knowledge, whilst I don't know everything I'm pretty competent and can make decisions

- I like owning a grey . . . I wasn't shopping for a particular colour - I just shopped for the horse that fitted us best . . . and keeping him clean is like painting the Forth road bridge, but he looks so stunning when he is clean . . . he's my silvery, fairytale boy Total opposite, I didn't want a boring brown horse but I'm sooooooooo glad I have a poo coloured one now!

- Losing a toenail isn't the end of the world . . . I agree, but DH was a little less impressed about losing a fingernail!
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PolarSkye said:
Oh, and I much prefer rugs with detachable neck covers . . . much more versatile.ditto
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I have learnt a lot and had a few surprises, I have also occasionally surprised myself by dredging things from my memory that I never realised were there!

The biggest thing I learnt was to drive a 4x4 and trailer! I'd never driven anything bigger than a family saloon before :eek:

I love owning my girl though, and I think to be honest it has come as a bit of a surprise how very attached you get. How much we both care about her and worry about her, I honestly didn't expect to be woken by the husband in the middle of the night because he's worrying about whether she's warm enough etc. :D :D
 
Oh and even more importantly. Whatever you have budgetted for keeping a horse, double it, then double it again, then add on a contingency fund, and a shopping fund :rolleyes:
 
Four and a half years after buying my first horse after a 30 year break from riding...
1. Horses are MUCH more expensive than you think.
2. They are EVEN MORE expensive than most OHs think!
3. I actually love being out in the wet and the cold and mucking out and all the other messy, dirty jobs that non horse owners think are so awful.
4. It's sometimes very hard and very worrying to own a horse, but I don't regret being a horse owner EVER.
5. There's nothing quite as wonderful as a good gallop:D
 
1. I cannot, I repeat CANNOT stay on anything!

2. When you think you're just chucking a feed at horse quickly, you will be there for an hour administering first aid/repairing fence/looking for lost shoes

3. You can never have too many torches

4. I know a lot more than I gave myself credit for having had on off breaks over the years

5. Cold doesn't bother me but I can barely function when it is hot

6. Poo picking is literally never ending
 
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mandwhy said:
6. Poo picking is literally never ending
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Amen to this!

1. It IS possible to love a horse even more, when you finally have their passport.

2. You feel like the worst person in the world when he gets slightly lame and want to punch yourself in the face!

3. You feel you have to spoil him and cuddle him every second of the day.

4. You no longer know the feeling of sleeping past 8am.

I'm sure I'll think of more soon! I've only had him a month :D
 
Oh I have learned a lot over the past few months!

Horses are a lot more expensive than you think but worth every penny of it!
They are very time consuming if stabled, but i learned that i love mucking out/sweeping up etc... Anything to be there!
You will never know everything about horses!
Everyone will try to give advice and they will all say different things!
What works for someone else's horse might not work for yours.
You must be firm but kind.
If you treat them like sweet little kittens they will walk all over you!
Welsh mares can be Bolshy, sharp, stroppy and spooky!

You have a bond with your horse that no 'non horsey person' could ever understand!
 
I've learnt that groundwork with my loan boy is just as much fun as actually riding him!

His bum is the perfect place to lean on when I'm exhausted and he doesn't mind!

I really enjoy mucking out and making his stable pretty!

When he first started whickering to me in the field is when he started to melt my heart!

He is exactly what I needed! complete old gentleman that is happy to plod along with me! And has taught me lots and got me back into the swing of sharing

I trust him completely to take care of me and will let him pick the route through muddy/wet tracks as I believe he will keep me safe and pick the best route :)
 
Horses are a lot more expensive than you think :rolleyes:

In my first two horses I've learnt more about feed than I could have thought possible. :p

That big flashy quirky horses are for me :D

Dressage is my path in riding :)

That I'd much rather spend a day in mud, slosh and rain than spend it with friends shopping and buying things I don't need rather than matchy matchy tack she doesn't need ;)

That the horsey world is very small, and you meet the best people in your life but also the worst

I've gained a lot more knowledge than I had and I'm looking forward to progressing.

That nothing hurts more than to let a horse go. :(

That I will never get a horse knowing that it one day will have to go so I can progress again.

That HHO is the best thing since sliced bread :cool:
 
You would have assumed that after 40 years at it I would have learnt that carrying 2 huge haynets, 2 buckets of grub, a rug change and a torch whilst staggering over 2 fields of ankle deep clay is impossible, would you not ?

The extensive divets in the field now have a bottom shaped hole added and my washing machine has a brown froth stuck to the door.

Horses are good for the soul, if not the washing machine.
 
The importance of a quick 'hay check' before you enter your place of work.

Persistence will probably pay off (we're not there yet)

You end up going to top shop alot less :-)
 
Another one who has had several shares/loans before finally taking the plunge and buying my own...

People never tire of giving their opinion even when you haven't asked for it.

There are people who always think that they know better/everything just because they've had horses longer - I think that coming into horses as an adult if anything helps you appreciate how much more there is to learn.

How different the bond is between a horse that I know will go back at some point, and one that is mine for keeps - took me a while to twig!

How much time, effort and money I can spend on him!

How much difference a good instructor makes...

How invaluable good friends that you can share your horses with are :)
 
To set clear boundaries from the start and not let them get away with 'cute cheeky' behaviour. Unfortunately before you know it cute & cheeky has turned into taking the p*ss and you're past the point where it's easy to fix the problem.
Learnt from bitter experience from a mare who very slowly made herself boss without me noticing until it was too late.
 
Also, wellies truly are the shoe for all occasions and I don't understand why my OH thinks I should change them when going to the supermarket/pub/into town to meet a friend. Oh and they totally go with all outfits too cause people will think its 'festival chic' or something.

Spotting another horse person in the freezer section and feeling like I'm in a secret club...
 
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